Attack the Ottoman Empire?
Of course Franz would not make such a choice. What the Austrian Empire needed most at this time was development. Agriculture, industry, colonies, military industry, culture, transportation, finance—there was still great potential to be tapped in every field. It had not yet reached the point where it had no choice but to expand by force.
And even if he did choose military expansion, why would Franz go after great powers like Britain and France rather than attack the weak nations of Africa and Latin America? Why insist on butting heads with them to the death?
The Eastern Aegean Sea and Cyprus Island had few resources that could be exploited directly, and their supposed strategic value was limited as well. After all, the Austrian Empire had little interest in the Eastern Aegean Sea to begin with.
The only thing of value was Cyprus Island, but for the Austrian Empire, which already controlled Crete, it was rather tasteless and hard to discard.
Seizing Cyprus would not only offend Britain, but would also require troops to be split off to garrison it.
Franz's understanding of naval warfare was limited, but he knew very well that, from ancient times to the present, the greatest taboo in naval warfare was dividing one's forces.
The Austrian Imperial Navy had been able to win victory after victory largely because the Austrian Empire's narrow coastline limited the navy's upper potential, while also making it difficult for the Austrian Imperial Navy to be truly defeated.
Each time, the Austrian Imperial Navy could concentrate its forces and fight decisive battles against British squadrons, often even gaining a numerical advantage in local conflicts.
The British Navy, by contrast, was powerful, but could only send a portion of its forces to the Mediterranean Sea theater each time. The